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Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister. I have a secret to share with the noble Lord, Lord Hannay. Sometimes, opposition spokesmen move amendments that they do not necessarily want to see passed. In this case, the intention was clearly to seek reassurance and clarification from the Minister. There were indeed invaluable inputs both from the noble Lord, Lord Hannay, and others on this complex situation and to some extent those reassurances have been given. I hope that the clarity of the convention and the clarity of the Bill provide the right protection for our Armed Forces. The trouble is—and we have this in other areas of legislation—you can put things with great clarity on paper or on the statute book, but in the heat of battle anything can happen. Tensions are enormous and decisions have to be taken with immense rapidity, often without adequate and full information. That is the nature of warfare and operations—increasingly so in this age of asymmetric activity and sudden, unplanned and even unforeseen actions of great violence and danger. That is an area in which it becomes a little difficult to find the right documents to prove that something is legal or illegal. However, one understands the difficulties. I should like to think that as a result of this exchange the Government’s thinking will continue and, as the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, suggests, will find a way in which to make this clearer and easier in an increasingly complicated world for military operations. Contenting myself with that reassurance, I withdraw my intention to oppose this clause stand part. Clause 9 agreed. Clauses 10 to 15 agreed. Clause 16 : Power to enter premises and destroy immobilised prohibited munitions Amendment 3 Clause 16 : Power to enter premises and destroy immobilised prohibited munitions Amendment 3 Moved by